Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] MIT researchers have demonstrated a low-cost design of specialized electronic nozzles, called triaxial electrospray emitters, that could be used to manufacture time-release drug-delivery particles or self-healing materials efficiently and at scale. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] Teaching and Learning with AI is designed for higher education professionals, researchers, and policymakers from around the world who are interested in exploring the potential of AI in Higher Ed classrooms. Artificial Intelligence for All
• [New] Looking ahead, North America's increasing focus on domestic AI chip development and advanced packaging technologies will amplify demand for multi-die design, chiplet integration EDA tools, and thermal co-simulation software throughout the forecast period. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The right code review process in 2026 puts AI in the first-pass reviewer role and humans in the deciding role: focused on architecture, risk, maintainability, and judgement. Sourcegraph
• [New] NASA's Artemis astronauts will bring high fashion to the high frontier on future missions by wearing a Prada-designed inner layer beneath their space suits when they walk on the moon's surface. Scientific American
• [New] The QS7001, designed with a RISC-V microcontroller optimized for post-quantum primitives, will serve regulated procurement channels in the US and EU for applications like IoT, smart grids, and aerospace electronics. Quantum Computing Report
• [New] Of 788 census tracts in Phoenix, AZ, there are 389 where more than a quarter of buildings have significant fire risk, and 305 where more than half of buildings have significant fire risk. ClimateCheck
• [New] The convergence of rigorous analytical methodologies and innovative molecular design will be crucial in the delivery of clinically effective and safe biosimilar therapies to patients around the world. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] SpaceX plans to begin launching its third-generation satellites in 2026, each designed to deliver over 1 terabit per second (1,000+ Gbps) of downlink capacity and more than 200 Gbps of uplink capacity to users on the ground. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Overture, designed to cruise at Mach 1.7 with 64 to 80 passengers, is targeting a maiden flight in 2027 and FAA certification by the end of the decade. Tech Times
• [New] Brain-computer interaction will be easier: the design of efficient training protocols will accelerate, improve and make more intuitive user's mastering of the BCI assistive technology; also, the development of new electrodes and esthetic helmets will facilitate operation of BCI by laypeople. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Egyptian mummies, dating back to 2400 BC, reveal skeletal deformities typical of tuberculosis; characteristic Pott's lesions are reported and similar abnormalities are clearly illustrated in early Egyptian art. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] AI-assisted phishing attacks, SaaS platform compromise, cloud misconfigurations, supply chain intrusions, insider threats, and attacks specifically designed to disrupt operational resilience are the new reality in 2026. Cybersecurity Blog
• [New] The European Commission plans to propose a new regulation next month that introduces goals for smart meter adoption and tax changes designed to promote clean energy. financialpost
• [New] With global biodiversity in crisis, and climate change threatening nearly every city in the world, designing cities with nature is critical to advance resilience, adaptation, and more livable urban environments. New York Botanical Garden
• [New] Disruptive Threats: Major potential disrupters include: breakthroughs in chip design (e.g. competition from Chinese fabs maturing, new U.S. startups), alternative computing architectures (HP memristors, photonic chips), and platform shifts (cloud vs edge computing). Risk Intelligence Service
• [New] 11 new models are planned globally through 2030, with nine allocated to North America, spanning a midsize and large van platform on the STLA Brain architecture with battery-electric, hybrid and internal combustion powertrains. Automotive World
• [New] A major concern is that an AI-designed pathogen could intentionally or unintentionally spark a global pandemic. Wired
• [New] The Renovation Wave aims to renovate 35 million buildings by 2030, at least doubling the annual rate of energy renovations in the EU. Energy
• [New] 65% of developers expect their role to be redefined in 2026, moving from routine coding toward architecture, integration, and AI-enabled decision-making. IP With Ease
• [New] In just 10 years, the generative AI design sector is forecast to grow 18 x its current size, from $741 million to $13.9 billion. Figma

Last updated: 15 June 2026